'Harry Potter' Director Breaks Silence On J.K. Rowling Controversy While Reflecting On Franchise's Legacy

Chris Columbus, the director who brought the Wizarding World to life on the big screen, is speaking candidly about his past with "Harry Potter" and about J.K. Rowling's divisive views.

While Columbus has no plans to return for HBO's upcoming reboot, his reflections on the films, the franchise's future, and Rowling's comments reveal both pride and sadness.

Columbus made it clear that his time at Hogwarts is firmly in the past.

The director of the first two "Harry Potter" films and producer of the third says he has no interest in revisiting the saga, even as HBO moves forward with its highly anticipated reboot.

"No, I've done it, you saw my version," he told Variety while in London to promote Netflix's "Thursday Murder Club." "There's nothing left for me to do in the world of Potter."

Despite stepping away, Columbus is far from bitter about the television project. In fact, he welcomes it, especially since the small-screen format will allow for details the original films had to cut.

"The great thing about it is that with the first and second, and third book, we wanted to do it all. We wanted to bring all of that onto the screen, and we didn't have the opportunity," he said.

Columbus cited Peeves the poltergeist, absent from the films, as well as a tense potion scene involving Harry and Hermione that never made it onscreen.

"We could never get that incredible scene into the film, and I'm sure it'll be in the HBO series. So for me, it's an opportunity to bring all those scenes to life," he said.

Seeing the reboot being filmed gave Columbus a surreal moment of nostalgia.

"Because it was exactly where we were 20 years ago!" he said, recalling a shoot with Daniel Radcliffe and Martin Bayfield standing in for Robbie Coltrane.

Columbus has always felt pride in Radcliffe's journey. He said lessons learned on "Home Alone," particularly the need to protect young actors from sudden fame, influenced how he and producer David Heyman approached the "Harry Potter" cast.

Columbus explained that after his experience on "Home Alone," he and producer David Heyman made it a priority in "Harry Potter" to focus on casting not just the young actors, but also ensuring their parents were prepared for the intense spotlight.

With the world's eyes on Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, Columbus credits the support of their "wonderful parents" for helping them navigate fame and grow up well despite the enormous pressure.

That pride only grew when Radcliffe earned Broadway recognition.

"There's a sense of pride to see Daniel Radcliffe win a Tony Award. It was just remarkable. Seeing him on stage and seeing how incredibly talented he is as a musical comedic actor was just very moving for me," Columbus said.

While he cherishes his "Harry Potter" memories, Columbus did not shy away from addressing J.K. Rowling's highly criticized statements on trans identity.

The director expressed sadness over the author's divisive stance while emphasizing the importance of separating art from artist.

"I like to sometimes separate the artist from the art, I think that's important to do," he said. "It's unfortunate, what's happened. I certainly don't agree with what she's talking about. But it's just sad, it's very sad."

Chris Columbus is not the only one connected to the "Harry Potter" franchise to have commented on Rowling's comments.

The controversy surrounding her stance on gender identity deepened after "Harry Potter" star Sean Biggerstaff publicly condemned her celebration of a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that denied trans women legal recognition.

Rowling had posted a photo aboard her $150 million yacht, holding a drink and a cigar, which sparked criticism. When accused of smoking a blunt, she pushed back, stressing it was "objectively, provably, and demonstrably a cigar."

Biggerstaff fired back, saying bigotry had corroded Rowling's wit, and even amplified a viral post comparing her cigar display to Andrew Tate's signature look.

The actor went further, accusing Rowling of being an "obsessed billionaire" funding campaigns against trans rights and arguing that most Scottish women did not support her stance.

He expressed support for trans women, criticizing those using women's rights as cover for reactionary politics.

His comments added to the growing rift between Rowling and the "Harry Potter" cast, as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have also rejected her views, a position Rowling claims she will never forgive.

Although Rowling is at odds with many members of the "Harry Potter" cast, not everyone is against her.

Tom Felton, known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the films, recently spoke at the 2025 Tony Awards about the ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling's views on gender identity.

When asked if her opinions had impacted his relationship with the franchise, Felton responded candidly.

"No, I can't say it does. I'm not really that attuned," he told Variety. "The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world. Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than 'Potter,' and she's responsible for that. So I'm incredibly grateful."

The 37-year-old actor made it clear that despite the backlash Rowling faces, he continues to credit her for creating the world that shaped his career.